Jannik Sinner is the fourth Italian tennis player of all time to reach the quarterfinals in a Grand Slam tournament without dropping a set and playing at least three matches. The first Italian to do so was Gianni Cucelli at Roland Garros in 1948. In that tournament, Cucelli had a bye in the first round, then overcame American William Young by 63 63 62, Indian Dilip Bose by 62 63 61, and Australian legend Frank Sedgman by 76 64 63. The second was Beppe Merlo at Roland Garros in 1955 and 1956. In 1955, Merlo overcame Chile's Andres Hammersley by 60 60 63, Uruguay's Arsenio Motolko by 62 61 61, France's Gerard Pilet by 75 64 86, and Belgium's Philippe Washer by 62 62 61. In 1956, however, Merlo eliminated Switzerland's Dimitri Sturdza by retirement, Irvin Dorfman of the United States by 60 63 62, Robert Haillet of France by 64 62 64, and Robert Perry of the United States by 62 63 63. Finally, the third and last, before Jannik Sinner, was Corrado Barazzutti at the 1977 US Open and 1980 Roland Garros. On the 1977 Forest Hills green clay, Barazzutti overcame U.S. Bill Scanlon in the first round by 62 64, Romanian Ilie Nastase in the second round by 64 64, Australian Mark Edmondson by 61 60 in the third round, and U.S. Butch Walts by 62 60. Three years later at Roland Garros Barazzutti eliminated Australian Ross Case 62 64 61, American Tom Gullikson 63 62 61, Chilean Belus Prajoux 62 64 63 and Australian Peter McNamara 64 62 76. We must also remember, however, Giorgio de Stefani, who reached this milestone twice in the 1930s but played only one match the first time and two matches the second time. At Roland Garros in 1934, de Stefani reached the quarters, beating Australia's Alan Stedman and France's Edouard Thurneyssen by retirement before taking the court and overcoming France's Andre Merlin 86 62 62. The following year, in 1935, at the Australia International Championships, de Stefani reached the quarters by overcoming Australian Dubley Frankenberg 61 61 61 and Australian John Clemenger 62 76 62.
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